How does Highland's water compare to the national average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Highland (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L harder than average.

Highland Water Hardness & Quality Report (2026)

Water Hardness

very hard

180+ mg/L

Very Hard

estimated · not lab-verified

Source

reservoir

pH Level

7.5

neutral = 7.0

Lead

0.003 mg/L

✓ Below action level

TDS

197.5 mg/L

Est. Daily Cost

$0.91

energy & soap waste

Source: See methodology section below · Updated 2026

very hard180+ mg/LVery Hard · est.

0–60

mg/L

Soft

61–120

mg/L

Moderately Hard

121–180

mg/L

Hard

180+

mg/L

Very Hard

Appliance Damage Report

In Highland, your appliances are currently losing 45% efficiency due to mineral buildup.

Appliance	In Highland	Soft Water City	Efficiency Loss
Kettle	4.7 yrs	8.5 yrs	-45%
Washing Machine	6.6 yrs	12 yrs	-45%
Water Heater	8.3 yrs	15 yrs	-45%

Regional Water Comparison

How Highland compares to its nearest neighbours

City	Hardness	PFAS (ppt)	Risk	Source
▶ Highland, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	99.6 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	reservoir
Redlands, California	152 mg/L	34 ppt	🟠 Hard	reservoir
San Bernardino, California	≈ 120–179 mg/L	45.3 ppt	🟠 Hard	groundwater
Loma Linda, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	0 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater
Colton, California	≈ 180+ mg/L	118.3 ppt	🔴 Very Hard	groundwater

National Benchmark

How Highland compares to the USA average

Benchmark	Hardness	Appliance Risk
▶ Highland	≈ 180+ mg/L	🔴 High
USA National Avg	151 mg/L	🟠 Moderate
Scarsdale Top Rated	0.02 mg/L	🟢 None

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What Makes Highland's Water Unique?

Local geology and source profile

Source: ReservoirTDS: 197.5 mg/LpH: 7.5

East Valley Water District (EVWD) supplies drinking water to Highland, California, in San Bernardino County, serving over 55,000 residents. The utility relies exclusively on treated groundwater from regional aquifers; no named reservoirs or rivers are used as sources. EVWD collects over 3,500 water samples annually, maintaining distribution through county-wide systems within the inland empire region.

Highland's watershed is characterized by Southern California's inland valley groundwater basins, underlain by ancient alluvial deposits. Limestone and calcium carbonate formations dominate the subsurface geology, imparting a hard character to the supply as water dissolves minerals during underground flow. This geology shapes a mineralised profile typical of the region, with no surface watershed involvement, yielding naturally hard water from these aquifer sources.

Very hard water in Highland causes significant scale buildup on fixtures, appliances, and pipes, reducing water pressure and straining water-using systems. Water heaters, dishwashers, washing machines, showerheads, and faucets are most affected, with crusty deposits forming quickly and leading to higher energy bills and shorter appliance life. Maintenance tips include using vinegar to dissolve spots, lowering water heater temperature, adding rinse aids in dishwashers, and installing showerhead filters. A water softener is strongly recommended for very hard water to eliminate mineral accumulation and prevent premature appliance damage.

Geology & Source: Southern California inland valley groundwater basins; ancient alluvial deposits rich in limestone and calcium carbonate — dissolved calcium and magnesium during underground flow produce hard water typical of San Bernardino County aquifers

Other California Water Reports

Redlands

152 mg/L

🟠 Hard

San Bernardino

≈ 120–179 mg/L

🟠 Hard

Loma Linda

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Colton

≈ 180+ mg/L

🔴 Very Hard

Report an Issue

Notice an error or missing data? Help us keep this page accurate. If you spot incorrect water hardness, outdated utility info, or missing details, please let us know.

All reports are reviewed by our team. Thank you for supporting data quality!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Highland's water safe to drink?

Yes. Highland's water meets all federal safety standards. The hardness is ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), which is safe to drink. High hardness affects appliances and taste, but poses no health risk.

Do I need a water softener in Highland?

At ≈ 180+ mg/L (Very Hard), Highland's water will cause significant limescale on kettles, washing machines, and water heaters. A water softener or descaler is strongly recommended to extend appliance lifespan and reduce energy bills by up to 45%.

How does Highland compare to the USA average?

The USA national average is 151 mg/L. Highland (≈ 180+ mg/L) is 189 mg/L above the national average. The softest major city is Scarsdale at just 0.02 mg/L.

Data Sources & Methodology

Water quality data for Highland is derived from geographic and geological modelling of the surrounding region. No federal monitoring station data was available for this location.

Estimated

Water Hardness

Modelled estimate based on state-level USGS geological survey data for this region. No direct USGS Water Quality Portal measurement was matched to this city — the value reflects a statistical range calibrated to the state's dominant rock types and typical source water characteristics.

Estimated

Estimated from regional geology and source water characteristics. pH is correlated with water hardness and local bedrock — values may differ from utility-reported figures.

Estimated

TDS — Total Dissolved Solids

Estimated using a derived ratio from water hardness and regional conductance profiles. TDS in natural water correlates strongly with total mineral content including hardness ions.

Measured

PFAS — Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances

EPA UCMR5 (5th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 2023–2025) — sum of PFAS compounds detected at the public water system serving this city. A value of 0 indicates the system was sampled with no detection above reporting limits.

Modelled

Lead

Modelled estimate based on the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap-sample methodology. No publicly available per-city lead dataset with sufficient national coverage exists. Values are a conservative baseline derived from city population tier and infrastructure age — all estimates are maintained below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

Calculated

Appliance Lifespan

Calculated from water hardness using a linear degradation model. Baseline lifespans represent soft-water performance (kettle: 8.5 yrs, washing machine: 12.0 yrs, water heater: 15.0 yrs). Hard water mineral scale progressively reduces operational life in direct proportion to hardness concentration.